WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986
51
STAFFING OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPT EXPLAINED
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VACANT SENIOR POSTS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WILL BE FILLED BY THE TRANSFER OF STAFF FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE PROMOTION OF JUNIOR OFFICERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY PROF THE HON POON CHUNG-KWONG WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO FILL VACANCIES AT SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER LEVEL BY RECRUITING LOCAL PEOPLE IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT MORE VIGOROUSLY THE LOCALISATION POLICY.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE POSTS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (TO BE ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 1) WOULD BE PARTLY FILLED BY OFFICERS IN THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND PARTLY BY THE TRANSFER OF STAFF FROM THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE RATIONALISATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ORGANISATION FOR POLLUTION CONTROL.
HE SAID MOST OF THOSE TO BE TRANSFERRED WERE LIKELY TO BE LOCAL OFFICERS.
+ IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING POLICY, HE CONTINUED, THE REMAINING VACANCIES IN THE SENIOR RANKS WOULD BE FILLED BY THE PROMOTION ON THE BASIS OF MERIT OF SUITABLE AND QUALIFIED OFFICERS IN THE LOWER RANK, VIRTUALLY ALL OF WHOM ARE LOCAL OFFICERS.+
HE SAID DIRECT APPOINTMENT TO THESE VACANCIES WOULD BE MADE ONLY WHEN NO SERVING OFFICERS WERE SUITABLE FOR PROMOTION.
+WHERE IT WAS NECESSARY TO RESORT TO DIRECT APPOINTMENT BY WAY OF OPEN RECRUITMENT, PREFERENCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO LOCAL CANDIDATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY WHICH PROVIDES THAT APPOINTMENT OF OVERSEAS CANDIDATES CAN ONL BE CONSIDERED WHEN SUITABLE AND QUALIFIED LOCAL CANDIDATES ARE NOT AVAILABLE,+ HE SAID,
FINDINGS BY CONSULTANTS NOT BINDING ****
RECOMMENDATIONS BY CONSULTANTS MAY BE TURNED DOWN BY THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY RESULT IN UNFAVOURABLE PUBLIC REACTION, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR CHAN SAID CONSULTANTS RARELY MADE IMPRACTICABLE SUGGESTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE NOT FEASIBLE.
/+CONSULTANTS ARE